Chapter 35 Chapter 0035
•MASON•
I felt a lot better when I woke up. My body was energized, and I could finally think more clearly.
Nadia’s side of the bed was empty when I woke up. It wasn't even 6 a.m. But that thought quickly slipped out of my mind as I sat up on the bed and tried searching for the doctor who had helped me.
We left the hospital before I could see her again and thank her properly for what she had done. I was on the verge of death when she stepped in and pulled me out of the abyss of darkness.
When I couldn't find her on any platform, I slipped out of bed and went to the bathroom.
I needed to speak with the elders, and it had to be today. A lot of things were going through my mind, and I wanted to get all the answers.
I left the bedroom and headed downstairs. The pack house was quiet, with only a few early risers moving through the halls.
Pack members bowed their heads as I passed, murmuring quiet greetings of relief and gratitude.
I nodded in return, but my mind was already focused elsewhere.
The council chamber sat at the far end of the main wing. When I entered, the elders were already seated around the long oak table. They rose together when they saw me.
“Alpha,” Elder Mira said, her voice thick with emotion. “We didn’t expect you so soon.”
“I’m fine,” I replied as I took my seat at the head of the table. “Sit. We have things to discuss.”
Elder Mira spoke first, her tone steady. “Alpha, we are grateful you are recovering so quickly. But the poison in your blood was no accident. Nightshade potion is rare, expensive, and almost impossible to find without connections. Someone inside the pack, or very close to it, supplied it.”
I nodded. “I agree. The coffee came from our private kitchen, and only a handful of people have access. We need to narrow it down.”
Elder Orin leaned forward. “We have already begun questioning the kitchen staff. No one has admitted to anything unusual, but we are watching closely. The cup was traced back to the pot brewed that evening, so the poison could've been added at any point between preparation and delivery.”
Elder Draven cleared his throat before speaking. “There is another possibility we can't ignore. The doctor, Dr. Frost, who treated you, identified the poison immediately and reversed it when our own healers could not. That level of knowledge is unusual for a human.”
The tension in the room shifted, and all eyes turned toward me.
“She saved my life,” I said firmly. “Without her, I would be dead. She acted quickly and decisively, and that doesn't make her a suspect.”
Noah spoke next, his voice calm. “With respect, Alpha, it makes her a person of interest. She knew exactly what the poison was and reversed it without hesitation. Either she has information about who supplied it, or she has knowledge that goes beyond what a human doctor should possess.”
Elder Mira nodded slowly. “The potion is rare even among our kind. For a human to recognize it on sight and neutralize it so cleanly raises serious questions.”
"I felt something before fainting in my office," I blurted. "I'm not sure if this is related to what I felt, but I smelled a new pup. The scent never left my senses for days, and I was woken by it this morning."
Noah leaned forward again. “The poison may have affected your mind. It weakens and confuses the mind. Perhaps what you felt was a hallucination, a lingering echo of the past.”
“Perhaps,” I said, though uncertainty lingered in my voice. “But I want her brought back for questioning, not as a prisoner but as a consultant. I want to know how she recognized the poison and how she reversed it so quickly.”
Elder Orin frowned. “If she is innocent, we risk offending her. She has no obligation to return.”
“If she is not innocent,” Noah countered. “We risk letting the person who poisoned our Alpha walk away with knowledge of our vulnerabilities. She might be involved with whoever did this, or she could have been sent to finish the job after the poison failed.”
I looked around the table, seeing the same mix of doubt and caution on every face.
“I agree,” I said finally. “Bring her in. Tell her I wish to thank her personally and discuss the poison in more detail. Offer payment for her time and expertise, and make it clear she is not under suspicion, at least for now.”
Noah inclined his head. “I will arrange it. She will be here within the next two days.”
Elder Draven spoke quietly. “And if she refuses?”
“Then we consider other options,” Noah replied. “But I don't believe she will refuse.”
The meeting ended shortly after, and the elders filed out while murmuring among themselves. Noah lingered behind.
“You are certain about this?” he asked.
“I need answers,” I replied. “About the poison, and how I consumed it. Whoever did this must be found and punished."
Noah sighed before he answered. "You're right, Alpha. We will find the person and bring them to justice. I will ensure it.”